THE CONGRESS HAD been in a celebratory mood since October 5, when the exit polls unanimously predicted its victory in Haryana and gave it a chance at forming a coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir. Drum beats and the sound of crackers filled the air at the party headquarters in Delhi in the morning of October 8, the counting day, when early trends favoured the party.
The celebrations soon turned out to be an embarrassment, as the BJP took lead. By noon, the party office fell silent. Just three months after a spirited performance in the Lok Sabha elections, the party was yet again left to deal with the rather familiar situation of an electoral defeat.
The Congress was optimistic about doing well in the assembly polls. Victory in the state elections would have enhanced doubts about Brand Modi and the stability of the BJP-led Central government. It would also have strengthened the leadership credentials of Rahul Gandhi and increased the party’s heft in the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).
However, the defeat in Haryana and the underwhelming performance in Jammu and Kashmir have come as a sobering experience. The debacle in Haryana, particularly, is stinging. A victory against the BJP in the Hindi belt would have given the party a big morale booster amid its poor record in direct contests against the BJP, and also a second state to rule north of the Vindhyas. It would also have set the tone for the next round of elections, with Maharashtra and Jharkhand scheduled for polls in November. The party could have bargained harder for seats with its alliance partners from a position of strength. Noises are already being made by the partners in Maharashtra that the party needs to shed its big brother mentality and be more realistic in the seat-sharing discussions.
This story is from the October 20, 2024 edition of THE WEEK India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 20, 2024 edition of THE WEEK India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Trump And The Crisis Of Liberalism
Although Donald Trump's election to a non-consecutive second term to the US presidency is not unprecedented—Grover Cleveland had done it in 1893—it is nevertheless a watershed moment.
What Will It Take To Clean Up Delhi Air?
IT IS ASKED, year after year, why Delhi’s air remains unbreathable despite several interventions to reduce pollution.
Men eye the woman's purse
A couple of months ago, I chanced upon a young 20-something man at my gym walking out with a women’s sling bag.
When trees hold hands
A filmmaker explores the human-nature connect through the living root bridges
Ms Gee & Gen Z
The vibrant Anuja Chauhan and her daughter Nayantara on the generational gap in romance writing
Vikram Seth-a suitable man
Our golden boy of literature was the star attraction at the recent Shillong Literary Festival in mysterious Meghalaya.
Superman bites the dust
When my granddaughter Kim was about three, I often took her to play in a nearby park.
OLD MAN AND THE SEA
Meet G. Govinda Menon, the 102-year-old engineer who had a key role in surveying the Vizhinjam coast in the 1940s, assessing its potential for an international port
Managing volatility: smarter equity choices in uncertain markets
THE INDIAN STOCK MARKET has delivered a strong 11 per cent CAGR over the past decade, with positive returns for eight straight years.
Investing in actively managed low-volatility portfolios keeps risks at bay
AFTER A ROARING bull market over the past year, equity markets in the recent months have gone into a correction mode as FIIs go on a selling spree. Volatility has risen and investment returns are hurt.
